Notes on the Stoke Row 1851 Census

It should be borne in mind that this Census was completed thirteen years before the sinking of the Maharajah's Well in 1864.

No 1 is George Hope, who built The Hope public house, later known as the Farmer, and today as Farmer's Cottage, on the corner of Main Street with Nottwood Lane.
In 1851 he was already ambitious, being not only a Farmer who employed two labourers, but also a Parish Collector(?) and a Grocer.

There were quite a number of Paupers, whose former occupation or, in the case of Widows that of the late husband, is also detailed.
At the same time, some people are mentioned as Annuitants.
Though most of the workers are Agricultural Labourers, many worked in connection with wood, Wood Dealers, Carpenters, etc, and some of the women were Laundresses and there was also a Dressmaker.

No 8, Daniel Reeves, is the only Baker mentioned.

No 11 sadly details a former Farmer and his son as both being Paupers.

No 18: The School was built in 1853, and Harriet Whittick, is here listed as School Mistress.
In 1853 the first teachers are listed in the School Log Book as William & Mary Crews (see Dipping into the Wells, p 115).

No 22 gives Joel Pembroke as Grocer & Beer Retailer.
His wife, Martha, is later mentioned in the Victuallers Recognances as Publican of the Cherry Tree (earlier known as The Traveller's Friend).

No 25 is William Wichelow, 58 years, Farmer & Master Tilemaker.
His wife, Martha, later ran the family tile-making business.
No 17 was his son.

No 33: Sarah Allnatt was 'Wife to an Oxford College Servant' and was born in Oxford, but lived at Stoke Row, 20 miles from the city, with her four children.
Curious?

No 36: James Beterage, aged 54, was a Widower with two sons and five daughters - the youngest child was only five.
He also had his 78 year old widowed mother-in-law living with him!

Nos 50 - 62: Scots Common is the area as one turns from Stoke Row into the Checkendon road.
Nuthatch is the beginning of what we would today call Checkendon.
The group of Council houses there are named Nuthatch.
No 58: The Horse & Jockey PH, on the west side of the Stoke Row - Checkendon road (see Dipping into the Wells, p 160).
No 63, Broad Oak House, is 500 yds down the east side of the Stoke Row - Checkendon road.

No 52: James Arrowsmith is named as the Perpetual Curate of Stoke Row.
St John's Church was erected in 1846, presumably the Vicarage had not yet been built by 1851, as the Rev Arrowsmith was then living at Scotts Farm House.

No 56 reveals another small business.
George Poor was a Master Shoemaker, who employed one Shoemaker who lived elsewhere in the village (No 14, Richard Marks), and two Journeymen Shoemakers who presumably travelled around and sold their products.